Leeds Rhinos rookie Zak Lloyd reflects on debut, thanks crowd, outlines hopes for more 1st team action

Lloyd began playing rugby league around six years ago, when he was 12, having previously focused on tennis. He joined Rhinos’ scholarship from the Siddal community club in Halifax and progressed through the academy and reserves sides before getting a taste of first team action during a two-game spell on loan with Hunslet earlier this year.

He was 18th man for Leeds’ win against Bradford Bulls and made his first Betfred Super League appearance five days later as a substitute in last Friday’s 46-0 thrashing of Toulouse Olympique. Lloyd’s family presented his playing jersey before the match and reflecting on his initial experience of the big time, he said: “It was amazing.

“There were a lot of nerves before the game, but it all went away towards the warm-up when I went out there. The crowd was unreal, I got that first carry in and it was just like playing any other game.”

Being part of the squad for the Bulls game proved valuable. “I hadn’t really experienced what the first team do before a game, their preparation,” Lloyd explained. “With the academy and reserves it’s a bit different, we get there about an hour and 20 minutes before the game.

“In the first team it is two hours before so it’s a bit of a longer wait and there’s a bit of a forwards’ meeting and a team meeting beforehand. It is a bit different and the week before helped settle my nerves a bit because I knew what I was coming into.”

Though Lloyd was mentioned by Rhinos’ coaching staff as someone who might get a first team call this year, he had to bide his time. “At the start of the year Brad [Arthur, Rhinos’ team boss] told us he’s not going to change a winning side,” he said.

“Everyone was playing well so it was probably just a case of injuries, which is not nice - you don’t want them, but it does open up opportunities and I got that. Brad put his trust in me, which I appreciate. I have been waiting a while, but it was worth the wait.

Chev Walker, Rhinos’ transition-coach, was the one who told Lloyd he would be playing against Toulouse. The teenager recalled: “On Wednesday morning Brad asked to see me in his office. Both Chev and Brad were in there and Chev let me know. He said ‘congratulations, you’ve deserved it - go out there and kill it’. I had a few little thoughts around a debut - I was told after the Bulls game to be ready so I thought I might be playing.”

Lloyd got on midway through the second half, when Leeds led 34-0. “It was all dependent on how the game was going,” he said of how much game time he expected. “I was really happy with the stint I got.

“I think I got 20 minutes, but there was nothing really planned. It was more of a case of where I was going on at, but I was happy to get on at back-row and the scoreline took some pressure off me.”

The 15,000 crowd gave Lloyd a loud reception and he stressed: “We’d just scored so I didn’t know if they were cheering for the try or for me. I hope it was a bit of both, but they were cheering the whole time, so it was great.”

He added: “I experienced it a bit on Boxing Day, but nothing like that when you are individually going on to make your debut. The South Stand made it so much better, it puts a smile on your face when you are running on and they are cheering for you and for the team. It’s mad.”

While the speed of the game was a step up - and he admitted to being “gassed” about 10 minutes into his spell - Lloyd felt he coped “pretty well” with the physicality in both defence and attack. Rhinos have six matches remaining in the regular season and it remains to be seen if he will get another chance this term.

He stated: “It totally depends on who we are getting back and what Brad thinks the best team is going to be. I’d love to play as many games as I possibly can, but at the end of the day it is not my decision. I’ll control what I can control with how I am training and playing, whether that’s reserves or first team and just give myself the best possible opportunity to stay in the team.”